Dress for Success

At Dress for Success Cincinnati the suit is just the beginning. We prepare, empower and transform women to achieve economic independence. Our vision is a world where women do not live in poverty, are treated with dignity and respect and are strengthening their families and shaping their communities.

I’d never been to Ohio or Kentucky until about a year ago — when I went on the run from an abusive fiancé with my two young children.

A friend in Ohio had offered us her home as a sanctuary, and urged me to come. But when I called her from Carrolton, Kentucky to let her know we were getting close – she said I should go home – she had changed her mind. I was in shock. Alone with my two little ones, no family, no friends and little money, I found myself homeless somewhere in Kentucky.

As if things weren’t bad enough, my four year old injured himself at the cheap hotel I managed to put us up in for a few days. At the hospital, I had to utter the words “I am homeless” in order to receive the immediate care that my son so desperately needed.

An angel dressed as a nurse told me there was refuge available for us at the Women’s Crisis Center in Newport – and I certainly was in crisis. With no place else to go, a bruised heart and two little kids– we headed to Newport to try and piece our lives back together somehow.

With no job, I started vocational school at Brighton’s Center to hone my computer skills while coping with how my life had just flipped inside out. The Brighton Center became a salvation for me while my children were adjusting to their new schools. For my internship, one of the counselors introduced me to Dress for Success — and I instantly fell in love with the company and its purpose.

During the time that I’ve been interning at Dress for Success, I have gained confidence and encouragement from these amazing women. They supported me and suited me for my job search — and I am on an upward climb!

I’m now attending Gateway Community and Technical College so that I can be self-sufficient — and lead by example in my little household. I want my children to take pride in their mother — and know that even when faced with major setbacks and adversity, they are still capable of reaching their goals.